@ Dan Griscom:
The clothes in the basket match those of Viviana. And I think she is the only one using the bathroom.
There is a differently coloured leg there, but I think that is the lighting. Also the second set of clothing is probably the fresh set of clothes for when she’s done.

At least Ryker was involved in the events. He literally just gave the family’s money to two people he met in the park. He received nothing for it, and then they left. I wonder how long he can draw out, and make himself look good during, the story.

At least Ryker was involved in the events. He literally just gave the family’s money to two people he met in the park. He received nothing for it, and then they left. I wonder how long he can draw out, and make himself look good during, the story.

Actually, they haven’t left yet – they’re still at the tavern, employed by Ryker’s dad. Well, Ilias is outside the city for the night, but Vivi is still there. And they used the money to pay for the music box, so they DID get something for it. Hopefully, they can sell it again and recoup most of the cash.

@ Traveller:
Sell the music box? Yeah, they could do that but how about that enchanted transformation sphere that cost a whole lot more? I mean getting their savings back would be nice but I think making a huge profit would feel better to them.

Unlikely but potentially funny/deadly scenario: Vivi et al return the transportation sphere to the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper accesses the travel log of the sphere via a rarely-known function, and discovers who’s really behind this whole thing.

@ Traveller:
Sell the music box? Yeah, they could do that but how about that enchanted transformation sphere that cost a whole lot more? I mean getting their savings back would be nice but I think making a huge profit would feel better to them.

Problem is, then they’d be on the hook for stealing the sphere. The music box is theirs. If they send the sphere back, everything’s cool and their cover won’t be blown.

– Ok ok, I lend it to our guest wich I just met the o her day and who turned out to be the rightful queen, and also the leader of the Shadowdancers. She needed it to buy a magical artefact in order to… get… some other artifacts…? To defeat the evil mage…… and his army…. of… dragons? Why are you looking at me like this?

I think that Vivi’s bath water suggests that some dying is going on again. What and why I don’t know, though. Her other leg could be changing skin color . . . could she be turning herself into An Innocent Bystander who returns the sphere pretending to be bewildered by it? But then she needs to look like Viviana The Queen for their planned video broadcast . . . Confused as usual. Sigh.

it was supposed to be an accident when she sent the sphere off to the infidel engineer’s house. if they return if (after the exceptional machinist cleans it), it won’t be anything more than a misunderstanding/fat fingering of the touchpad incident. the music box might be ryker’s problem to reconcile…

and maybe undying is going on in the tub; who knows? that might be more appropriate since she needs to be her for the speech. she’s not going to be like, “hey! i’m bill gates!!!” “(take off…)”

@ Traveller:
Sell the music box? Yeah, they could do that but how about that enchanted transformation sphere that cost a whole lot more? I mean getting their savings back would be nice but I think making a huge profit would feel better to them.

That transportation sphere has been stolen from an honest merchant, not from the enemy, so Vivi will want to return it after usage. Also, extremely expensive and easily recognizable devices like that can not be sold easily, because guards / police will look for it. Granted, it might be a little easier in a partial medieval world than in our real world, but still you would need a shady merchant with very good connections to buy something like that as contraband ware. Don’t forget that Vivi can’t rely on the shadowdancers currently.

At least Ryker was involved in the events. He literally just gave the family’s money to two people he met in the park. He received nothing for it, and then they left. I wonder how long he can draw out, and make himself look good during, the story.

It’s almost impossible for him to look good and I don’t think he will pull that off. He can tell the truth or he can tell a lie that puts himself in a bad picture. If he admits to the theft, but states a false reason, one that is nowhere even close to justifying said theft, he may be believed. Anything that makes him look good has a near zero chance to be believed.